That's one big space jellyfish: Photo of the Week, June 30-July 6, 2024

Florida Today
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Launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Starlink 8-9 mission, launched from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 4:55 a.m. EDT Wednesday, July 3rd. Launch viewed from the Banana River.
Launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Starlink 8-9 mission, launched from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 4:55 a.m. EDT Wednesday, July 3rd. Launch viewed from the Banana River.

Senior photographer Malcolm Denemark went out of his comfort zone for the July 3 launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on the Starlink 8-9 mission.

The result of that step outside his usual lines, to capture a rocket rising from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station? FLORIDA TODAY's latest Photo of the Week, and it's a serene yet soaring scene.

"There was a derelict boat in the Banana River, just north of the Beachline, named the Double C's," Denemark said.

"The boat was too far offshore to make a good foreground for launch, so I had to wade out in the river to the boat in the dark with about $6,000 in camera equipment — tripod, three cameras, lenses. Luckily it was calm and shallow. Was just about to pack up from my streak shot of the launch when the contrail started to 'jellyfish.'"

P.S. Not sure what causes that space jellyfish effect? The phenomenon occurs during the few minutes just before sunrise or just after sunset when the ground is dark but sunlight is present in the furthest reaches of the atmosphere. The timing of this launch, 4:55 a.m., was just right for one splendid sight.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: The jellyfish effect: Photo of the Week, June 30-July 6, 2024